Millennium Force reopened after part fell; state report details mishap

Cedar Point's Millennium Force roller coaster reopened on Saturday night, Oct. 17, after a part came off a ride vehicle the day before, Attractions Magazine reported. Several outlets, including Yahoo, the Akron Beacon Journal and the Record-Courier, published stories on Oct. 22 under the headline "State report details Cedar Point Millennium Force coaster mishap." CashIn Adventure could read only those headlines, not the stories.

What the state and park said

Bryan Levin, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said park officials notified the state around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, according to El-Balad.com. Two state inspectors went to Cedar Point and reviewed the ride before it could return to service, the site reported.

Levin said the piece that came loose was a "nylon spacer that attached the body panels to the chassis of the vehicle," according to Mogaz. A chassis is a vehicle's main frame. Mogaz reported that why the piece came loose is still under investigation. The site also reported that the problems had to be corrected to manufacturers' specifications before the ride could operate.

In a statement sent to 3News, a park spokesperson described "a small bracket" that "became dislodged from a ride vehicle and landed in a guest area," according to Yahoo's account. The park said the ride was "immediately taken out of service in accordance with established protocols" and would stay closed pending its internal review and an additional state inspection.

The park and the state used different words for the part. The sources do not explain the difference. WOWO's headline said the part landed near park visitors.

Injuries and reopening

Mogaz reported that no one was hurt on the ground or on the train, and that the train was able to return to the station.

After the reopening, a park spokesperson said the ride had resumed operations once maintenance inspections and all required safety checks were completed, according to Fox 8.

Earlier incident

Yahoo's report noted a similar episode in 2021, when a bracket piece fell from Top Thrill Dragster and struck a guest in the head. The guest later sued, and the two sides reached a confidential settlement in 2024, Yahoo reported.

Before you go

The cause of this mishap is still under investigation, according to Mogaz's account of Levin's comments. Riders can follow posted ride rules and staff instructions. Ride status can change at any time, so check Cedar Point's official channels on the day you visit.